Watering restrictions take effect Tuesday, May 12, and will continue through July 1 in city of Sarasota

Order prompted by recent rainfall shortages and regional water district action

Image courtesy City of Sarasota

City of Sarasota residents will be under lawn-watering restrictions beginning Tuesday, May 12, with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) having issued a water shortage order in response to recent rainfall shortages, the city has announced.

The city order will be in effect through July 1, a news release points out. For all water sources except for reclaimed water, the lawn-watering restrictions are as follows:

  • Residents with even-numbered addresses may water Thursdays and Sundays before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
  • Those with odd-numbered addresses may water Wednesdays and Saturdays before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
  • Common areas may be watered on Tuesdays and Fridays before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
  • Hand watering and micro-irrigation of plants (other than lawns) can be done at any time.

For new lawns and plants, watering can be performed as follows:

  • On the day of installation, watering is permissible at any time.
  • For the next 30 days, watering can be performed on any day before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

For the next 30 days after that period, watering can be performed as follows:

  • For even-numbered addresses — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
  • For odd-numbered addresses — Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
  • For common areas — Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

To help with the water shortage, residents are asked to check their irrigation systems for leaks and to eliminate wasteful water use, such as hosing down driveways or other surfaces or allowing water to flow unattended.

No specific restrictions are being imposed on fountains, car washing or pressure washing, the news release says, “but these should be done as efficiently as possible to prevent waste.”

No restrictions have been put on the use of reclaimed water for watering outdoors.

Residents who do not comply with the watering restrictions could be subject to enforcement, including civil penalties of up to $500 per violation under the City Code, the release stresses.

For more information about the SWFWMD order, visit WaterMatters.org/Restrictions.

For more information about the city’s ordinance or questions about the restrictions, visit SarasotaFL.gov/government/utilities or call the Utilities Department at 263-6224.

1 thought on “Watering restrictions take effect Tuesday, May 12, and will continue through July 1 in city of Sarasota”

  1. What about water for pool ie when pool level gets low

    Editor’s Note: Please contact the city’s utility department at the phone number at the end of the article.

Comments are closed.